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CLAIMS
1. An thod f producing an immunogen, which
method comprises polymerising a hirudin and/ r a hirudin-
5 like protein. r '
2 . a method according to claim 1 wherein the
hirudin and/or the hirudin-like protein are/is polymerised
with glutaraldehyde.
3. a method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the
10 hirudin is HV1 (SEQ ID NO:l), HV2 %SEQ' ID NO: 2) r HV3 (SEQ
ID NO:3>, PI (SEQ ID NO:4) or P2 (SEQ ID N0:5).
4. a method according to claim; l or 2 wherein the
hirudin-like protein is a derivative of J HVl (SEQ ID NO:l),
HV2 (SEQ ID NO:2), HV3 (SEQ ID NO: 3} , PI (SEQ ID NO:4) or
15 P2 (SEQ ID NO: 5) by way of amino acid substitution,
deletion, insertion, extension, functiohalisation or
chemical modification, said derivative having anti-thrombin
activity. . •: ,
5. An immunogen comprising a polymerised hirudin
20 and/ or hirudin-like protein.
6. An immunogen according to claim 5 wherein the
hirudin is HVl (SEQ ID NO: 1) , HV2 (SEQ ID N0:2) , HV3 (SEQ
ID NO: 3), PI (SEQ ID N0:4) or P2 (SEQ ID NO: 5).
7. An immunogen according to claim 5 wherein the
25 hirudin-like protein is a derivative of HVl (SEQ ID N0:1),
HV2 (SEQ ID NO: 2) , HV3 (SEQ ID NO: 3) / PI (SEQ ID NO:4) or'
P2 (SEQ ID NO: 5) by way of amino acid substitution, •
deletion, insertion, extension, functional isat ion or-
chemical modification, said derivative having anti-tnrombin
30 activity. ''■ . .£'•■;! . ,
8. An immunogen according to' claim 5, 6 or 7
obtainable by polymerising the hirudin and/or the hirudin-
like protein with glutaraldehyde. j
9. A method of producing an antibody capable of
35 binding to a hirudin or a hirudin-like protein, said method
comprising raising antibody against an immunogen as claimed
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in any one of claims 5 to 8.
10. a method according to claim ^wherein th said
antibody is a polycl nal antibody. .'".,.1
11. Aithd according to claim ?5&erein the said
5 antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
12. a method for the quantitative determination,
purification or identification of a hirudin or a hirudin-
like protein, said method comprising raising antibody
against an immunbgen as claimed 'in any one of claims 5 to
10 8, and using the antibody thereby obtained in said
quantitative determination, purification or identification.